MBF3C Name: _________________________

Chapter 4 & 5: Quadratic Relations Date: ____________________

Culminating Activity

Factored, Vertex and Standard Form

of a Quadratic Relation

On Planet X, the height, h metres, of an object

fired upward from the ground at 48 m/s
is described by the quadratic relation:
𝒉 = 𝟒𝟖𝒕 − 𝟏𝟔𝒕𝟐 ,
where t seconds is the time
since the object was fired upward.

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Part A:
(a) Write the quadratic relation in standard form.
Recall that standard form: 𝒚 = 𝒂𝒙𝟐 + 𝒃𝒙 + 𝒄.
For this problem, however, our variables are t and h instead of x and y. And, in this case
there is no constant term, c.
In standard form, the variables are arranged in order of highest to lowest exponent.

ℎ= 𝑡2 + 𝑡
(b) What is the value for a for this parabola? Give the first three steps.

a=
(c) What is the step pattern for this parabola? List the first three steps.

(d) Describe this graph using the transformations on 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 .

Can you determine the horizontal and vertical shift from the standard form of the
parabola?

(e) What is the y-intercept of the parabola? This is determined by the value of c from the
standard form of the parabola.

(0 ,____)

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Part B:
(f) Write the quadratic relation in factored form.
Recall factored form: 𝒚 = 𝒂(𝒙 − 𝒓)(𝒙 − 𝒔).
 First write the relation in standard form.

ℎ =______𝑡 2 + ______𝑡
 What is the Greatest Common Factor of each term in the standard form of the
relation? The G.C.F. will include both number and letter parts. Remember to include
the negative in the G.C.F. if there is one in the equation.

G.C.F. =
 Factor the G.C.F. out of both terms you wrote in  above.

ℎ=( )∙( − )
G.C.F. When multiplied by the G.C.F.
these two terms should give
you the original relation in
standard form.

(g) What are the zeros of the parabola?

Rewrite the
factored form ℎ=( ) ∙ ( − )
from part (h)
above.
=0 =0

Each expression
in brackets above ( _____ ) = 0 and ( _________ ) = 0
gives us one zero.

Each of these
values gives 𝑡= 𝑡=
one zero.

The zeros are the coordinates of the x-intercepts.

(____, 0) and (____, 0)

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(h) At what time does the object hit the gound?

𝑡= s

Part C:
(i) What is the axis of symmetry of the parabola?
Recall: What is the relationship between the axis of symmetry and the zeros?
The axis of symmetry is the equation of the vertical line through this point.

𝑡=
(j) What is the vertex of the parabola?
 What is the x-coordinate of the vertex?

( , ℎ)
 Substitute this value of 𝒕 into 𝒉 = 𝟒𝟖𝒕 − 𝟏𝟔𝒕𝟐 and solve for 𝒉.

Substitute the value for t in brackets. ℎ = 48 ( ) −16 ( )2

Order of operations, square first. ℎ = 48 ( ) −16 ×_______

Multiply to get rid of brackets. ℎ= −

Answer: ℎ=
[Hint: This is the same value you would obtain for t and h in question (n) in the table of values.]

 State the coordinates of the vertex.

(_____,_____)

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(k) What is the maximum height of the object?

ℎ= m
(l) Write the quadratic relation in vertex form.
Recall vertex form: 𝒚 = 𝒂(𝒙 − 𝒉)𝟐 + 𝒌. State the values of a, h and k.

𝑎=

ℎ= ℎ =____ (𝑡 −____ )2 +____

𝑘=

Part D:
(m) Expand the vertex form of the quadratic relation to get standard form.

Start with
vertex form. ℎ =____(𝑡 −____)2 +____

Square
the binomial. ℎ =____(𝑡 −____)(𝑡 −____) +____

Expand
the binomial. ℎ =____(𝑡 2 −____𝑡 +____) + 36

Distribute into
the brackets. ℎ =____𝑡 2 +____ 𝑡 −____+36

Collect like terms to

get standard form. ℎ =____𝑡 2 +____ 𝑡

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(n) Complete a table of values for the relation.

𝒕 𝒉 = 𝟒𝟖𝒕 − 𝟏𝟔𝒕𝟐 𝒉 Coordinates

0 (______,______)

0.5 (______,______)

1 (______,______)

1.5 (______,______)

2 (______,______)

2.5 (______,______)

3 (______,______)

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(o) Graph the relation using its vertex and step pattern in pencil.

Select an appropriate scale.

Make sure to properly label the graph with a title and axes.
(_____,_____)
State the coordinates of the vertex. [From (j)].
What is the step pattern for this parabola?
[From (c)]. (You will only be able to fit one step
on the graph.)
(p) Plot the points from your table of values (7 in total) on the graph using a blue pen or
pencil crayon. [From (n)]. Draw a smooth curve using a pencil through the points you
have graphed

(q) Plot and label the y-intercept found in Part A using a red pen or pencil crayon.

What is the y-intercept of the parabola? [From (e)].

( , )
(r) Plot and label the zeros found in Part B using a green pen or pencil
crayon.

What are the zeros of the parabola? [From (g)].

(____, 0) and (____, 0)

(s) Plot and label the axis of symmetry, the vertex, and the maximum height found
in Part C using a brown pen or pencil crayon.
What is the axis of symmetry of the parabola? [From (i)]. 𝑡=

What is the maximum height of the object? [From (k)].

ℎ= m
(t) At the bottom of the graph, using a pencil, write the equation of the quadratic relation
in standard form, factored form, and vertex form in the first row of the table.

(u) In the row below each of the equations write the information that can readily be
obtained from each equation. For example, each of the forms give the value of a,
which provides the direction of opening and shape and size. This has already been
recorded in the table. In the last row, record the unique information that each equation
provides about the graph of the quadratic relation.

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Axis Label: Title:

Axis Label:
Standard Form Factored Form Vertex Form

a – direction of opening, shape and size of parabola